greg
Multiple Donor
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:07 pm Posts: 7088 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Recent gig experiences
The past few weeks have been the most varied I think I've ever had as far as performances go, and it will keep up for a while yet..
In addition to the Stick Camp gigs, where I played my usual tunes and improvs, a couple of weeks ago I played duo with a violinist at his recital, Peter Gabriel tunes. Then last weekend it was covers galore at a benefit for a local food bank. Last Thursday found me as the bassist in a large ensemble of string quartet and three winds playing a new composition by Matthew Burtner inspired by a calving glacier, the sound of which accompanied us, Yesterday I was the bass, rhythm and lead component of a band backing up a vocalist (drums percussion, voice and yt). And next week I'll be performing with the University's New Music Ensemble, including a piano and Stick duo by one of the student composers.
It's been stretching me out in many different directions... I have to read a lot, which has been good training for me, and quite revealing about my weaknesses in this area. Several of the scenarios allow me to focus on just one part at a time, which is a wonderful contrast to my usual role of "covering all the bases".
Without exception, listeners are always telling me how great the instrument sounds — something I take for granted — with different aspects of the sound emphasized in each new setting. With the large ensemble, for instance, The bass was really present without being loud. I believe this was the result of it's completely different character: simpler overtones, long sustain, and subtle "extension" of the sound through vibrato and "fret-scraping" of the strings, plucking the strings to create tremolo effects, etc...
What a great and varied instrument we hold...
_________________ Happy tapping, greg Schedule an online Stick lesson
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piratebruce
Multiple Donor
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:28 am Posts: 1057 Location: Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
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Re: Recent gig experiences
Great report Greg, inspirational work with STICK .
_________________ Bruce Jacques Melbourne Australia.
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Captain Strings
Master Contributor
Joined: Thu May 30, 2013 2:45 pm Posts: 792 Location: Sylmar, California
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Re: Recent gig experiences
Well done. And who better than you sir, to be out there on the leading edge of this great instrument's contribution to modern music. I mean playing accompaniment to the sound of calving glaciers........ What's next? Jamming along with the mating calls of Orcas in the wild?
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AnDroiD
Elite Contributor
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:42 pm Posts: 2532 Location: Jersey
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Re: Recent gig experiences
greg wrote: Last Thursday found me as the bassist in a large ensemble of string quartet and three winds playing a new composition by Matthew Burtner inspired by a calving glacier, My kind of people. Sounds like a blast, Greg.
_________________ Peace, Marty "The present day composer refuses to die" -Edgard Varese
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